Leaping toy animal



March 24,1959 1 K. SEDLACEK 2,878,616

LEAPING TOYANIMAL Filed April 11, 1957 United rates Patent LEAPING TOY ANIMAL Karl Sedlacek, Brockville, Ontario, Canada Application April 11, 1957, Serial No. 652,148 4 Claims. 01. 46-129) The invention relates to animated toys and concerns particularly that type of toy which simulates a running animal, such as a horse, and to which motion is adapted to be imparted through the medium of a cord in the hands of a player.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a toy which will afford interesting diversion for both children and adults.

Another object of the invention is to provide a type of toy which can be used in competition between two or more persons equipped with the toys and wherein the relative skill of the persons using the devices will be the determining in the winning of the competition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ani- And generally the objects of the invention are to provide a toy of sturdy construction, requiring considerable skill in the manipulation thereof, and which can be produced at small cost.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts set out in the present specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims for novelty following.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a toy embodying my invention, in position on a supporting member, such as a table, which constitutes the running course, the operating cord being broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, at rest.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the device tensioned in readiness for the forward spring to the position shown in broken lines in said figure.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings 1 denotes the body, which is herein shown as being that of a horse, although it is understood that the body may take the form of that of any other four-footed animal. The body 1 is preferably made of sheet metal cut to provide the proper side contour of the animal including the neck 2, the head 3 and tail 3a.

In order to give the appearance of reality the device 1 preferably is painted or shaped to show trappings, such as bridle 4, reins 5 and a saddle 6 and, further, to give the appearance of speed the neck is shown out-stretched and arched and the head held high.

7 and 8 are plates of metal or other material, representing the forelegs of the animal and being shaped to resemble in side elevation the legs of the animal. The legs 7 and 8 are fixed at their upper ends, by means of pins 11 and 12, over the outer flat surfaces of discs 9 and 10, respectively, which are located at opposite sides of the body 1 at points coresponding to the location of the shoulder joints of an animal serve to space the legs from the body. The forelegs extend downwardly at a slight of the table.

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forward angle in parallel relation to one another and at their lower ends carry spherical ground engaging elements 13 and 14 which serve as feet.

The forelegs 7 and 8 are held spaced near their lower ends by cross rods 15 and 16 which are positioned in spaced relation to each other and are suitably secured at their ends to the legs by pins 17. These cross rods are provided with vertically aligned circumferential cord receiving grooves 18 and 19 located medially of the ends thereof.

20 and 21 are plates of a rigid material shaped to correspond in side elevation to the hind legs of the type of animal being represented and providing the support for the body at the rear. These supports, hereinafter called hind legs, are located at opposite sides of the body in surface engagement with the flat outer sides of spacing discs 22 fixed to the body and are pivoted to said discs by a pin 23 which extends through the body 1 and the discs and enters the legs. The hind legs 20 and 21 carry at their lower ends spherical feet 24 and 25, respectively.

The hind legs 20 and 21 are spaced near their lower ends by rods 26 and 27 which extend therebetween in vertically spaced relation to each other and which are provided with circumferential cord guiding grooves 28 and 29, respectively, which latter are aligned lengthwise of the device with the grooves 18 and 19, respectively, of the spacing rods 15 and 16.

30 is a spring consisting of a length of spring wire wound around the disc 22 at one side of the body 1 and having its one end anchored to the body 1, as at 31, and having its other end 32 turned across the rear edge of the adjacent hind leg 21 and exerting forward pressure on said leg to influence it to its most forward position, as shown in Figure 2.

33 is a detent, consisting of a pin or rod, extending between the hind legs 20 and 21 at a point adapted to impinge the under side of the body 1 when the said hind legs have reached the most desired forward positions, and so limit the forward movement of the hind legs.

Abnormal rearward movement of the hind legs will be prevented by the member 33a which comprises an inwardly turned part of the leg 21 and which is so positioned as to impinge the end of the body should excessive rearward pull on the hind legs occur.

34 is a cord by means of which the members 20 and 21, which constitute the hind legs of the animal, are pivoted on their supports to bring about the forward movement of the device caused by each rearward pull on the cord and the action of the spring 30 on the release of such pull. This cord is attached at one end to the cross rod 15, Within the central circumferential groove 18, and extends forwardly of the device and loosely through the eye 34a of a hook member 35 and then extends rearwardly beneath the cross rod 16, within the groove 19 of said cross rod, and continues rearwardly over the rod 27 and is then turned forwardly, within the groove 29, from which it extends downwardly around the forward side of the rod 26, within the groove 28, and then extends rearwardly in a part of considerable length, preferably about eight feet, or more.

In the use of this invention the device is first placed upright on a table, or other surface of considerable area, and is so placed, preferably near one edge of the table, that it will face and be at right angles to, another edge The book 35 is then placed around such other edge and the cord is then pulled from a point behind the device so that it will be relatively taut and will, where crossing the cross members 16, 27 and 26, be aligned with the respective grooves of said cross members. The device is now ready for forward animated movement and this is accomplished in two stages. The first stage is effected by pulling rearwardly on the part of the cord behind the device sufficiently to swing the hind legs and 21 on their pivot 23 from their forward positions against the resistance of the spring to their rearmost positions. Owing to the fact that the hind legS normally lie in a forwardly inclined position when the device is at rest and, further, due to the fact that the cross member 26 in the at rest condition of the hind legs lies forwardly of the cross member 27 this cross member 27 becomes a fulcrum for the cord and this rearward pull on the cord will. not move lengthwise the portion of the cord forwardly of the member 27 but will cause a rearward pull on the cross member 26 and cause it to swing on a wider are than the cross member 27 and, because the hind legs are longer than the front legs, and extend downwardly beyond the cross member 26, the lower ends of the hind legs will swing on astill greater are than the cross member 26. It will further be noted that during the initial rearward swing of the hind legs to vertical positions the front legs will not move forwardly because the hind legs being longer than the front legs will in progress to such vertical positions cause the rear part of the body to move upwardly and the front part to pivot on the spherical feet instead of mov ing forwardly on the supporting surface.

During the remaining rearward swing of the lower ends of'the hind legs which pivot at their top ends the member 26 passes to the rear of the member 27 so that pull on the cord rearwardly against the front of the cross member 26 causes a downward pressure to be exerted against the top of the member 27 so that the rear portion of the body is swung downwardly and the front spherical feet pivot on the supporting surface but no appreciable lengthwise movement is yet imparted to the part of the cord forwardly of the member 27. At the full extent of the rearward movement of the hind legs the whole device will have assumed a position simulating an animal ready to spring forward.

The second stage is effected by temporarily relaxing the pull on the cord to a degree less than the strength of the spring 30 upon which said spring acts to snap the hind legs forwardly to their at rest positions in respect to the front legs. During this forward swing of the hind legs, while pull on the cord is temporarily relaxed the cross member 26 will return to its position forwardly of the member 27 and in so doing will exert a forward push on the cord against the resisting pull being applied by the operator so that a forward pull will be applied to the part of the cord between the members 26 and 27, which will draw the part of the cord in advance of the member 27 rearwardly through the eye 34a of the member 35 and thereby cause a forward pull on the device so that the forward movement of the device will be in the nature of a leap.

It will be seen that as each pull on the cord will cause the simulated animal to assume a crouching position and each relaxation of the pull will result in the spring 39 acting to cause it to spring forwardly, continuous repetition in rapid succession of the processes of pulling and relaxing of the pull on the cord will cause the animal .to move forwardly in a series of leaps simulating closely the galloping gait of a living animal. This forward movement may continue until the device closely approaches the eye member 34a of the anchor member 35, around which the cord extends so that rearward pull on the cord will cause forward movement of the device, upon which rearward pull on the portion of the cord at the rear of the device will cease to have the effect of pulling forwardly on the device and it will then be necessary for renewal operation to move the device backwards towards the edge of the table opposite to that to which the anchor member is attached.

It will be found that very considerable skill is required to manipulate the cord with sulficient rapidity to' cause continuous movement of the device at a galloping gait and at the same time avoid. such error of movement as would cause the device to topple. This hazard serves to create added interest in a competition between two or more persons operating like devices in a race.

While I have shown and described herein the present preferred form of construction and arrangement for carrying out my said invention, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set out herein, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my inventionis:

1. In a toy simulating a quadruped adapted to be moved over a plane surface in a series of successive leaps, a body. rigid forelegs fixed to said body and inclined forwardly in spaced parallel relation to each other, rigid means connecting said forelegs, hind legs pivoted at their upper ends to said body for swinging movement between forwardly inclined and rearwardly inclined positions, upper and lower cross members connecting said hind legs and being spaced from one another lengthwise of said hind legs, means to limit the forward swing of said hind legs, means to limit the rearward swing of said hind legs, fixed means positioned in advance of the body towards which the device is adapted to be moved in successive leaps, a flexible pull member having connection at one end with the device and extending forwardly and loosely around said fixed member and extending rearwardly over said upper cross rod connecting said hind legs, thence forwardly and downwardly around the forward side of said lower cross member, thence rearwardly of the body in a part adapted to be grasped by a person operating the device, said pull member, when said hind legs are in their forwardly inclined positions, on being pulled rearwardly causing said lower cross member to be swung in an are from a position forward of said upper cross member to a position rearwardly thereof and said hind legs to be swung ona wider arc than said cross members to their rearwardly inclined positions, and spring means adapted when rearward pull on said pull member is relaxed to a holding force less than the pressure of said spring means to snap said hind legs forwardly to their forwardly inclined position and to swing said lower cross member to a position forwardly of said upper cross memher, said lower cross member in its forward swing causing a pull in a forward direction on the portion of the pull member between said lower and upper cross members and a consequent rearward pull on the portion of the pull member in advance of said upper cross member whereby the entire simulated animal is advanced coincidently with the movement of the hind legs to their forwardly inclined positions.

2. In an animated toy, a body formed of sheet material shaped to simulate the body of a quadruped in side elevation, rigid forelegs comprising plates fixed to said body at opposite sides thereof and inclined forwards in spaced parallel relation to one another, rigid means connecting said forelegs, hind legs comprising plates pivoted at their ends to said body at opposite sides thereof for pivotal movement between forwardly inclined and rearwardly inclined positions, upper and lower cross members connecting said hind legs and being spaced from each other lengthwise of said hind legs, means to limit the forward swing of said hind legs, means to limit the rearward swing of said hind legs, spherical ground engaging feet carried by said forelegs and said hind legs for continuous engagement with the supporting surface, fixed means positioned in advance of the body towards which the device is adapted to be moved, a flexible pull member having connection at one end with said forelegs and extending forwardly and loosely around said fixed member and extending rearwards over said upper cross member connecting said hind legs, thence forward and downward around and over the forward side of said lower cross member, thence rearwardly of the body in a part to be grasped by a person operating the toy, said pull member when said hind legs are in their forward inclined position, on being pulled rearwardly causing said lower cross member to be swung in an are from a position forward of said upper cross member to a position rearward thereof and said hind legs to be swung on a wider arc than said cross members to their rearward inclined positions wherein said body will have assumed an upwardly inclined position from its rear end, and spring means adapted when rearward pull on said pull member is relaxed to a holding force, less than the pressure of said spring means, to coincidently move said hind legs forwardly to their forward inclined positions with the spherical feet in constant engagement with said plane supporting surface, swing the rear part of said body upwardly and forwardly and swing said lower cross member to a position forwardly of said upper cross member, said lower cross member in its forward swing causing a pull in a forward direction on the portion of the pull member between said lower and upper cross members and a consequent rearward pull on the portion of the pull member in advance of said upper cross member whereby the entire simulated animal is advanced coincidently with the movement of the hind logs from their rearwardly inclined positions to their forwardly inclined positions.

3. A toy according to claim 2, wherein said cross members connecting said hind legs are grooved circumferentially in their longitudinal centres as means to guide said pull member.

4. In a toy simulating a four footed animal, a body of sheet material, forelegs rigidly fixed to said body at opposite sides thereof and depending downward in a forward incline, a rigid cross member uniting said forelegs, means at each side of said body holding said forelegs spaced from said body, hind legs of sheet material pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said body for swinging movement between forwardly inclined and rearwardly inclined positions, means to limit the swinging movement of said hind legs, means holding said hind legs spaced from said body, rigid upper and lower cross members uniting said hind legs and being spaced from each other lengthwise of said hind legs, ground engaging elements carried by said forclegs and said hind legs, respectively, the lower portions of said ground engaging elements being rounded, fixed means in advance of said body towards which the device is adapted to be moved, a flexible pull member extending forwardly from the forelegs and slidably engaging said fixed means from which it extends rearwardly around the rear of said upper cross member and downwardly over the front of said lower cross member and continues rearward in a part adapted to be grasped by an operator, said pull member being adapted on being drawn rearwardly to cause simultaneous pivotal movement of said hind legs to their rearwardly inclined positions, pivotal downward movement of said body on said front ground engaging elements and downward movement of its rear part and pivotal movement of said lower cross member uniting said hind legs to a position rearwad of said upper cross member; and spring means adapted on relaxation of pulling force on said pull member to swing said hind legs to their forward positions causing said body to swing upwardly and said lower cross member to exert pressure in a forward direction on said pull member and thereby cause rearward pull on the part of said pull member in advance of said upper cross member and thereby move the device forwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,151 Fobes June 30, 1896 1,332,601 Burke Mar. 2, 1920 1,649,072 McAllaster Nov. 15, 1927 2,027,759 Anderson J an. 14, 1936 2,576,674 Dennis Nov. 27, 1951 

